Amidst promises, support and felicitations, Chetan Anand Badminton Academy took off at DRRMC Indoor Stadium on Sunday with Vijayawada Member of Parliament Lagadapati Rajagopal formally inaugurating it.

Hundreds of badminton lovers along with a good number of physical education teachers, administrators and academicians witnessed the making of history as this academy, once established, would serve the entire coastal region.

Dronacharya and Padmashri Awardee Mohammad Arif congratulated his ward – Chetan Anand - for establishing an academy in his native place and felt that it (the academy) will fulfil all the aspirations and dreams of the badminton lovers of the region. “Badminton has become Hyderabad-centric. More and more private academies should come up in the State for the growth of the game. I promise to involve myself with the academy as an advisor,” he said amidst warm applause.

Municipal Commissioner Panda Das said that the functioning of the academy will not hamper the practice sessions of the regular members. “Soon we will come out with a time table to suit all the users,” he explained.

Helping hand

MP Rajagopal said that Vijayawada will witness more international players emerging in the future and promised to render a helping hand for the progress of the academy.

Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association secretary K.Ch. Punnaiah Chowdary said Krishna District has produced several international shuttlers and unfortunately there was a lull in the activities owing to several reasons.

“Chetan made Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh and India proud with his accomplishments as a player and now the onus is on him to bring more laurels as a coach. I hope with his team he would achieve all his dreams,” he added.

Veteran feted

The organising committee felicitated veteran shuttler of South Central Railway Vijayawada Division Ranjan Roy, who was well-known for his on-court exploits in the 70s and 80s. It also feted K. Sai Sandeep, who won two medals in the national event for the physically challenged at Bangalore.